Words: 77 (16×15)
Average Length: 5.14
Here’s a tribute to Dr. King and an expression of gratitude to everyone who strives to carry on his legacy.
Author: Jeff
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Travel Midi 2 – Dubai and Oman
Words: 42 (11×11)
Average Length: 4.76
Travel blog link
In January 2020 – at the tail end of the Before Times – I went on a cruise from Dubai to Singapore with my extended family. I was disappointed with Dubai (too many people and cars, too much pollution and ostentation) but really enjoyed our second stop, Oman. You can read more details (and see some pix) on my travel blog. Meanwhile, enjoy the puzzle!
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Themeless 45
Words: 68
Average Length: 5.65
3 Down and 18 Down were the seeds for this grid; of all the great sayings and quotes about wine, these happen to fit symmetrically. Other than bringing your oenological expertise to bear, you can test your knowledge of stoner comedies, Springsteen albums, and dog breeds that anagram to a brand of markers. Enjoy!
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Travel Midi 1 – Antarctica
This is the first in what I hope will be a slew of posts marrying three things I love: crosswords, travel, and photography. Every Wednesday, I will post a travel-themed midi here, inspired by a photo I’ve taken on my travels. I’ll include a link to a write-up about the place and photo on my travel blog, PuffinlessTravel.wordpress.com.
Link to travel blog write-up
Words: 36 (11×11)
Average Length: 4.89
My brother and I traveled to Antarctica in February 2022. I wrote about the trip extensively at that time — see here and surrounding posts — and even constructed a penguin-themed crossword in celebration of the trip.
I’m revisiting Antarctica now because it was visually the most evocative place I’ve ever been. (Plus, I owe it a crossword that recognizes the continent’s many attractions other than penguins!)
Words: 74
Average Length: 5.05
Thank you all! I’m grateful to everyone who takes the time to solve my puzzles – the site received 10,000 views in 2022, up 60% from 2021, and solvers in 45 countries tackled my grids this year.
This puzzle contains my New Year’s wish for you. I hope you enjoy it. Keep solving, please share my puzzles with abandon (I’d love to double my views this coming year), and most of all, have a healthy, happy, fun and fulfilling 2023!!!
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Themeless 44
Words: 68
Average Length: 5.59
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! This themeless started with the entries at 1 Across and 11 Down. I first heard about 11 Down on a trip to Portugal in October (where the fee for one is close to half a million dollars). I tried to make the cluing on this one a bit gentler than usual, but it’ll still be a workout.
Revision: I just found out the first half of the clue for 3 Down isn’t right. Please ignore the reference to “trumpeter Blanchard.”
PS: I just returned from a terrific trip going from Lisbon to Cape Town, with stops in Madeira, Gran Canaria, The Gambia, Senegal, Ghana, Angola, and Namibia. If you’d like to see some photos and my write-up, please visit my travel blog.
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Set List 5
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.29
Here’s a concert line-up for you: the immensely talented Justin Timberlake, metal gods AC/DC, grunge idol Soundgarden, the magically-reformed Beatles, the ever-innovative Police, a reincarnated Otis Redding, more grunge from Nirvana, and closing the show, those giants of American music, the Grateful Dead. I’d go for sure, and tickets would undoubtedly be cheaper than seeing Taylor Swift. Enjoy the solve and the tunes!
(The photo has nothing to do with the puzzle. It’s from the Fathala Nature Reserve in Senegal, which I visited last week.)
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Themeless 43
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.34
I had a lot of fun cluing this one, so get ready to think outside the box, laterally, creatively, or whatever other way lets you grok my machinations. (The picture above, of 25 Down, was taken while hiking up Mount Liamuiga, which was a muddy and merciless slog over rocks and fallen logs; our guide rewarded us at the end with … thin sandwiches containing one slice of American cheese on white bread.)
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Puny but Punny 4
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Housesitting
Words: 74
Average Length: 4.65
Picture above: a house (not mine). It’s Hacienda La Compañia in Ecuador, and it’s gorgeous inside and out.
My quite limited artistic abilities are on display in this grid; if nothing else, the title should tell you what the black shape in the middle is. There’s a small amount of less-than-ideal fill necessitated by the constraints of the theme, so please accept my apologies in advance. I hope the phenomenally realistic grid design makes up for that.
Jeff's Puzzles 